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Key Facts: Malta vs Bangladesh Wages

Malta Minimum Wage
€5.74/hr ($6.68 USD)
Bangladesh Minimum Wage
৳12,500/mo ($103.73 USD)
Malta Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
€2,100 /mo ($2,445.56 USD)
Bangladesh Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
৳18,000 /mo ($149.38 USD)
Data Sources
Department of Industrial and Employment Relations (DIER); 2026 rate per DIER Resource Pack (dier.gov.mt) (2026-05-27), Ministry of Labour and Employment / Minimum Wage Board; sectoral structure cross-referenced via Wikipedia List of countries by minimum wage (2026-05-04)

Malta flag Malta Bangladesh flag Bangladesh

Updated 2026-05-27

Malta flag Malta

Minimum Wage

€5.74 /hr

$6.68 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

€2,100 /mo

Bangladesh flag Bangladesh

Minimum Wage

৳12,500 /mo

$103.73 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

৳18,000 /mo

Min wage: -94% Malta vs Bangladesh Avg. salary: +1537% Malta vs Bangladesh

The minimum wage in Malta is roughly 16 times lower than in Bangladesh in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a high-income and a lower-middle-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $2,446/mo in Malta versus $149/mo in Bangladesh, a 16.4:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Malta is 7.2x that of Bangladesh, underscoring the structural economic divide.

Malta has higher GDP per capita ($69,864 vs $9,647). Malta's unemployment rate is 2.9% compared to Bangladesh's 3.8%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Malta and Bangladesh
Metric Malta Bangladesh
Minimum wage /hr €5.74 $6.68
Minimum wage /wk €229.44 $267.19
Minimum wage /mo €994.24 $1,157.84 ৳12,500 $103.73
Minimum wage /yr €11,930.88 $13,894.12
Avg. gross salary /mo €2,100 /mo $2,445.56 ৳18,000 /mo $149.38
Avg. net salary /mo €1,750 /mo $2,037.96 ৳17,000 /mo $141.08
Median individual income /yr €17,000 /yr $19,797.37 ৳108,000 /yr $896.27

Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Malta is higher.

Work Week

Malta

40 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Standard workweek is 40 hours. Maximum 48 hours/week averaged over a 17-week reference period. Overtime premium is at least 50% for weekdays and 100% for Sundays and public holidays.

Bangladesh

48 hrs/wk standard

Max 60 hrs/wk

Overtime : 2x pay

Bangladesh Labour Act sets standard at 48 hours/week (8 hrs/day, 6 days). Maximum with overtime is 60 hours/week. Overtime paid at double the basic wage. Factories must provide one day off per week.

What This Means for Workers

A minimum wage worker in Malta earns 1452% less per hour in USD terms than one in Bangladesh. Standard work weeks differ: Malta mandates 40 hours while Bangladesh mandates 48 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Malta are $267 vs $4,979 in Bangladesh.

See this comparison from Bangladesh's perspective: Bangladesh vs Malta

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Malta or Bangladesh?

In Malta, the minimum wage is €5.74/hr ($6.68 USD). In Bangladesh, it is ৳12,500/mo ($103.73 USD). Bangladesh has the higher rate by 1452% in USD terms. That nominal gap does not account for local prices; see the purchasing power comparison below for a cost-of-living-adjusted view. Workers in Malta may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.

How much more does the average worker earn in Malta compared to Bangladesh?

The average gross salary in Malta is €2,100/mo ($2,445.56 USD), compared to ৳18,000/mo ($149.38 USD) in Bangladesh. In USD terms, workers in Malta earn approximately 1537% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Malta and Bangladesh is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Malta earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Bangladesh.

How do work hours compare between Malta and Bangladesh?

Bangladesh has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Malta. Workers in Malta work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Malta working fewer hours may have comparable or better effective hourly earnings depending on the wage levels of each country. Total annual compensation depends on both the wage rate and the number of hours required.

What is the cost of living difference between Malta and Bangladesh?

While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Malta has the higher GDP per capita at $69,864, which is 7.2x that of Bangladesh at $9,647. From Malta's perspective, this means goods and services are priced at a higher economic level. A higher GDP per capita generally correlates with higher wages, higher consumer prices, and greater availability of goods and services. Workers moving between these two countries should expect significant differences in rent, food, and transportation costs.